Topical Bible: Marriage: Jacob and his Wives

◄ Marriage: Jacob and his Wives ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The narrative of Jacob and his wives is a significant account in the biblical history of the patriarchs, illustrating themes of love, family, and divine providence. This account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, chapters 29 through 35, and it provides insight into the customs and familial dynamics of the ancient Near East.

Jacob's Journey and Meeting Rachel

Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, was sent to Paddan-aram to find a wife from the family of his mother, as recorded in Genesis 28:1-2. Upon his arrival, Jacob encountered Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother. Genesis 29:10-11 describes this meeting: "As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud."

Jacob fell deeply in love with Rachel and agreed to serve Laban for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. Genesis 29:20 states, "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days to him because of his love for her."

The Deception and Marriage to Leah

However, on the wedding night, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah, Rachel's older sister, as his wife. This act of deception is recounted in Genesis 29:23-25 : "But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant. When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?'"

Laban justified his actions by explaining the custom of marrying off the older daughter before the younger. He then offered Rachel to Jacob in exchange for another seven years of service, which Jacob accepted. Thus, Jacob married Rachel a week later, as noted in Genesis 29:28-30 .

Family Dynamics and Children

The marriages of Jacob to Leah and Rachel resulted in a complex family dynamic marked by rivalry and competition. Leah, who was less loved, bore Jacob his first four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah (Genesis 29:31-35). Rachel, initially barren, gave her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate, resulting in the birth of Dan and Naphtali (Genesis 30:3-8). Leah responded by giving her maidservant Zilpah to Jacob, who bore Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:9-13).

God eventually remembered Rachel, and she bore Joseph, who would later play a crucial role in the history of Israel (Genesis 30:22-24). Rachel's final son, Benjamin, was born as she died in childbirth (Genesis 35:16-19).

Significance in Biblical History

The marriages of Jacob to Leah and Rachel, along with their maidservants, resulted in the birth of the twelve tribes of Israel, each named after Jacob's sons. This foundational family structure is central to the narrative of the Israelites and their covenant relationship with God.

The account of Jacob and his wives highlights themes of love, deception, and divine sovereignty. Despite human failings and complex family relationships, God's purposes were fulfilled through Jacob's lineage, ultimately leading to the formation of the nation of Israel.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 29:15-30
And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? tell me, what shall your wages be?
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Concerning Jacob's Flight into Mesopotamia, by Reason of the Fear ...
... To which he added his own complaint and accusation of ... hadst given me thy daughters
in marriage, thou hast ... avoided." For certainly Laban had used Jacob very ill ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 19 concerning jacobs flight.htm

Of Jacob's Mission to Mesopotamia to Get a Wife, and of the vision ...
... he took her also to whom alone he had promised marriage. ... We do not read that Jacob
sought any but one, or ... would not have done this, had not his wives, who had ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 38 of jacobs mission to.htm

Jacob, a Prince of God.
... could not be given in marriage before the elder, and so Laban gave his daughter
Leah also, and both Leah and Rachel became the wives of Jacob, for Jacob lived ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter v jacob a prince.htm

Whether it was ever Lawful to have a Concubine?
... beloved of God, for instance Abraham and Jacob, had intercourse ... Further, a woman
who is taken in marriage cannot be ... Agar away, and her son was not his heir (Gn ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was ever lawful 2.htm

The Story of Jacob
... At last the day came for the marriage; and they brought in the ... been deceived,"though
that was just the way in which Jacob himself had ... But his uncle Laban said ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jacob.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... the women, who frequently receive a new name at marriage. ... flocks and all his cattle
and all his possessions which ... where he was far away from Jacob, his brother ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

Laban had Two Daughters, Leah and Rachel; but Leah had Tender Eyes ...
... love for the virgin, and, asking her in marriage from the ... not to take other wives
in addition to his daughters ... Then Jacob, going on his way, is said to have had ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter ix laban had two.htm

Letter xviii. Marriage.
... have you avoid the conclusion that marriage is indispensable ... taken by Isaac and Rebecca,
in relation to Jacob. ... of the Holy Scriptures"yet his strange wives ...
/.../a practical directory for young christian females/letter xviii marriage.htm

Chapter xxxi
... to it indicates that the daughters knew a better mode of giving in marriage to have ...
17, 18. So Jacob proceeded to set his children and his wives upon camels ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxi.htm

1 Cor. xiii. 4
... consorting with a believer, he dissolves not the marriage. ... As thus: Jacob was a
"plain man [214] , (Genesis 25 ... body to purchase the safety of his wives: and him ...
/.../homily xxxiii 1 cor xiii.htm